Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-19
The COUNrRY's. CROPS.
The Report OF the Department OF ayr
culture Upon the Crop Prospects


The Report OF the Department of ASrt-
culture Upon the Crop Prospects.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE report OF the
Department of Agriculture for May relates
TO the condition of winter grain, the pro
gress of spring blowing and the proportion
of the proposed cotton area already
planted 1t indicates decline IN the con-
dition of wheat of two points since Aprll 1,
the general average for the whole country
being So against % at the same date IN 1885,
40 in 1885 and "a in 1884. The changes In
condition have not been uniform through
out the winter wheat region, some
States showing an increase, the majority d
slight decline, and few heavy fallng-on-
The States of the Middle Atlantic Coast,
from Penns yIvania to North Carolina, snow
some Improvement, seasonable weather
having aided the plant in recovering more
than was expected from the injury done by
the trying season during February ana
March. In New York and New Jersey the
amount of winter-killed was not July
known on April l, and this, with cold, I'M
favorable weather during the month has
caused a serious reduc ton of condition;
drought has reduced the average somewhat
in the Eastern Gulf States, and has
wrought very serious damage in Texas and
Arkansas, lowering the condition during
the month 10 and 10 points respectively
Favorable temperature and reasonable,
in Tennessee, West Virginia and
Kentucky, the condition being considerably
higher in these States than it has averaged
in May for the past five years. The most
serious reduction of the month is IN Ohio,
where there is falling off OF eight points
since the first of April, due to the continu-
ing evil effects of the alternate freezing
and thawing noted in the last report, and
to the cold dry weather during the greater
part of A pril, which gave the injured plant
little chance for recuperation. A favorable
season after April 1 might have, in great
measure, repaired the injury done up to
that time but the continued unfavorable
conditions have wrought still further dam
age and small crop is now inevitable.
Michigan and Indiana show slight decline,
while in Illinois and Missouri there is gain
of one point. Unfavorable weather in KAN
sas and California has caused a slight
falling of, while in Oregon the prospect.
has advanced, it being the only State in
which condition reaches 100.
The averages of conditions by States are:
New York, Sc; Pennsylvania, -; Mary
land, "a: Virginia, so; North Carolina, 80;
Texas co; Arkansas, 93; Tennessee, SO;
West Virginia, SO; Kentucky, 95; Ohio, Il;
Michigan, 80; Indiana, 81; Illinois, SO;
Missouri, SO; Kansas, 81; California, SO;
Oregon, 100.
Rice has suffered from the same condi-
LlOnS WHICH nave III JuTlOuSly dlIccUSu wheat,
but on account of its harder nature, the
general average is considerably higher,
standing at 90S, against 81, on April /, and
95 z at the same date in 1856. The condi-
ton of barley is low, the average being SIS
against ST. in May, 1885, and So in 1885.
The season has been more generally ad-
vanced in all parts of the country than
usual, spring blowing being seriously be-
hind only on the Atlantic coast south TO.
Pennsylvania and on the Pacific slope. In
these sections it has been delayed by cold
and excess of moisture Elsewhere the
work is ahead of an average year. the sea-
son, especially during April, having been
generally favorable, with temperature
above the normal and rainfall at a mini
mum. The proportion already done on May
|, is estimated ut 50 per cent. on the whole,
while the amount usually completed at thats
date is about 16 per cent.
The proportion Of cotton already planted
amounts to more than four-fifths Of the
proposed area, and is slightly greater than
at the same date in any of the preceding
five years, but is little less than the pro-
portion returned by the correspondents as
the average planting at that date. The
proportions by States are: North Carolina,
20; South Carolina, so; Georgia, 81; Flori-
da, SO; Alabama, IS; Mississippi 81; Loui-
siana, 50; Texas, 50; Arkansas, 50; Tennes-
see. So